Interesting Facts about the Greater Flamingo

The greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) is the largest and most widespread flamingo in the world. They can be found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. They have been seen in other places around the world as well, but due to how commonly they are kept in captivity, no one is certain if these are wild or captive animals.

Did you know?

The greater flamingo can grow up to five feet tall and weight nearly nine pounds.

Most of the greater flamingo’s feathers are pink, but they also have red and black feathers.

They eat seeds, algae, shrimp, and other small organisms by sucking the water through their bills and filtering out their food. Their pink color is caused by the color of some small organisms that live in what they eat.

Greater flamingos live in large colonies that can be up to 10,000 birds. The males and females court each other, and usually mate for life.

Both the male and female incubate the eggs (sit on it to keep it warm until it hatches), and both parents also help feed their young. Baby flamingos are light grey.

Lesson plan note: Discuss why it is that adult flamingos are very pink, but their babies are grey.